Beauté Classique (Classic Beauty): Final Week of Project Run and Play!

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I can’t believe it is the final week of Project Run and Play and I am still here! Thank you so much for all of the support (specifically from my awesome husband and from my mum. Both of them have gone above and beyond to ensure that I was given time to complete my projects.)

Before I begin, I just have to say that this was one of the greatest experiences of my entire life and I am so thankful to have been a part of it. Some of my fellow competitors have now become people that I thoroughly enjoy having as my friend and there isn’t much more I could ask for.

This week’s theme was “Signature Style”. We had to create an outfit that we felt encompassed our personal design aesthetic and adequately represented our individual style.

Introducing

Beauté Classique

(Classic Beauty)

What is my “Signature Style”?

I believe that my style involves:

*lots of details, often in unexpected places

*beautiful colors and patterns

*classic and timeless designs

*craftsmanship

*peter pan collars (I love them, what can I say)

I think that about sums it up:)

My main focus this week was hand embroidery. I spent well over 23 hours (in a matter of 3 days; mathematically speaking that is insane) embroidering the entire front of Ainsley’s tunic. I modified an embroidery pattern I purchased HERE, traced it all out onto her shirt and spent days hand embroidering the entire thing. Time consuming, but well worth it

This week, I created a tunic using {faux} white linen. It has a bell shape, long sleeves, and of course a peter pan collar. There are accents of olive green throughout the top on the sleeve cuffs, the fabric covered buttons on the back, and the piping around the collar. Obviously, I embroidered the entire front of the tunic.

I also sewed up some adorable green bubble shorts (pantaloons) with a wide placket in the front featuring large buttons. They are seriously the most adorable thing ever and I might just eat them up.

I also made her an adorably large bow headband with coordinating fabric. Every girl needs accessories!

Check out my embroidery! I am seriously so proud of myself.

I am not joking when I say it took me complete and utter dedication to get this finished in a matter of 3 days…

Here is the entire outfit, including the boots (found at a discount!) and the upcycled cable knit stockings I made out of an old sweater. Those stockings didn’t get much use during our photo shoot because of the unusually warm weather, but they will be perfect in a few weeks!

And in keeping with my “Signature Style”….

here is a boat load of photos with very few captions and descriptions (I promise to get better about that 🙂

Here was my sketch that I created a week ago:

(hey, I never claimed to be an artist, okay? haha)

This was my result!

What do you think?

Ainsley was wearing her stockings in these beginning photos, before she was about to have a heat stroke!

Once we removed the thick stockings, she was a happy camper

Those damn gnats….

I swear they were everywhere!

It needs to be repeated…

I have had the most incredibly happy, stressful, amazing, wonderful time being a designer on Project Run and Play. I never imagined how hard I would push myself, but I did. I know that I did the absolute best I possibly could and that is what matters. I can’t thank everyone enough for giving me this amazing opportunity. It has absolutely changed my life for the best.

Hayley Crouse is a wife, mother and multifaceted designer. Her love of sewing, crafting, cooking and interior design infuses her daily life and naturally spills over into her online presence. She pushes the envelope of her creativity and hopes that others will be inspired to do the same. She currently authors the Welcome to the Mouse House Blog, is the pattern designer behind Mouse House Creations and is a collaborative designer with Willow & Co. Patterns.

Absolutely gorgeous and stunning! My mom was from Germany and embroidered everything and I still think it is such a beautiful art. The silhouette of the tunic is very pretty and your attention to detail amazing. V. pretty, had to leave a comment this morning!

Hayley – your embroidery work is PHENOMENAL and I ADORE the outfit!!! {and of course, I went and voted!!!}. I would have spent a pretty penny on this entire ensemble for my Cuties if I’d seen this in a boutique!

Gorgeous and stunning are the words I want to use too!I can totally see you in the design, and Ainsley makes the perfect model and the setting is spot on! I love the embroidery design (very impressive considering your “lack” or artistic skills, lol), and how comfy yet fashionable her shorts look. Seriously love it!!

This is gorgeous – I love all the details. Did you base your design on the Oliver & S Puppet Show Pattern? I have that pattern and am inspired by you to add embroidery on it for a similar look for my daughter. Thanks for sharing your talents and inspiration!

Hayley, your work is beautiful and lively, I love it! Ainsley is adorable and quite the model. Where has the time gone…I remember your Mom showing us her newborn photos. Best of luck in the competition!Wendy A.